Ladeside are held by Penicuik

Kilbirnie face replay at Penicuik

AFTER an enforced three-week lay-off, Ladeside finally got back to business in this Scottish Cup tie against a top East Premier side in Penicuik Athletic.

The visitors had the first chance of the match when a Ponton free-kick into the box found the head of Williams but he headed over from eight yards.

Ladeside then had a chance when David Anderson linked up with Peter McGill before sending a pass through to Ross McKinnon but his shot from the left edge of the box went well wide. Allison then saved a 35 yard Scullion free-kick which dipped over the wall but didn't have the pace to beat the keeper.

The visitors then took the lead in 17 minutes when Kilbirnie failed and the ball was headed back across goal. A mix-up between goalkeeper Kieran Hughes and Reece Williamson saw the ball fall for Kateleza a couple of yards from goal and he fired the ball into the net. With the away fans still celebrating Ladeside hit back straight away to level the tie. Scullion delivered a terrific free-kick into the box and Mick O'Byrne threw himself to guide a header past Allison into the bottom corner. penicuik then came on the attack and a long ball was passed back to Hughes by O'Byrne but his clearance was straight at McRory but the keeper made amends to block his effort on goal.

A minute later Penicuik had another good chance when Hughes saved a shot from the edge of the area but Williams headed wide with the goal gaping.

Kilbirnie had another chance from a free-kick 22 yards out which Jon Scullion fired over the wall but Allison saved, diving to his right hand post.

Penicuik went back in front on 40 mins when a poor defensive header across the edge of his own box by Mitchell saw the ball fall to Kateleza who laid it off to Somerville and his shot from the edge of the box wrong footed Hughes and trundled into the net. The last chance of the half fell to the home side from a free kick after Anderson was pulled back but Scullion's effort from 30 yards went just wide of the target.

Kilbirnie made a better start to the second half and Tuohy played the ball through to Scullion who cut the ball back for Finlay but he snached at his shot and pulled it well wide. At the other end Somerville saw his effort blocked before Michael Tuohy sent McGill up the left and he cut inside before firing a shot from 35 yards which Allison tipped over the bar.

Ladeside drew level again on 63 minutes when Arnie Bembo did well to play a cross field pass to Cory Hughes and he sent in a great cross into the middle of the box where Finlay found space between two defenders to rise and power a header past Allison into the corner of the net.

Both teams never seemed to be settling for the draw and Penicuik pressed looking for a third with substitute Jack Hamilton firing over then having an effort parried by Hughes which broke to Ponton but he sclaffed his effort with an open goal in front of him.

Kilbirnie tried to hit back and a ball forward found Finlay who skipped past a defender before shooting from distance but Allison made a comfortable save. Scullion then crossed from the right for Finlay but his header was again saved by Allison.

The last opportunity fell to Penicuik when Ponton played in Kateleza but his shot went wide of the target. An entertaining draw and both teams will look to do it all over again on Saturday when Ladeside travel to Penicuik for the replay.

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